LORD FAIRFAX.
(Vol. ix., p. 10.)
Your correspondent W. H. M. has called my attention to his Note, and requested me to answer the third of his Queries.
The present rightful heir to the barony of Fairfax, should he wish to claim it, is a citizen of the United States, and a resident in the State of Virginia. He is addressed, as any other American gentleman would be, Mr., when personally spoken to, and as an Esquire in correspondence.
A friend of mine, Captain W., has thus kindly answered the other Queries of W. H. M.:
1. Sir Thomas Fairfax of Denton in Yorkshire was employed in several diplomatic affairs by Queen Elizabeth, and particularly in negotiations with James VI. of Scotland. By Charles I. he was created a peer of Scotland, his patent having been dated at Whitehall on Oct. 18, A.D. 1627.
2. The family of Fairfax never possessed property, or land, in Scotland, and had no connexion with that country beyond their peerage. Many English gentlemen were created peers of Scotland by the Stuart kings, although unconnected with the nation by descent or property. I may cite the following instances:—The old Yorkshire House of Constable of Burton received a peerage in the person of Sir Henry Constable of Burton and Halsham; by patent, dated Nov. 14, 1620, Sir Henry was created Viscount Dunbar and Lord Constable. Sir Walter Aston of Tixal in Staffordshire, Bart., was created Baron Aston of Forfar by Charles I., Nov. 28, 1627. And, lastly, Sir Thomas Osborne of Kineton, Bart., was created by Charles II., Feb. 2, 1673, Viscount Dumblane.
3. Answered.
4. William Fairfax, fourth son of Henry Fairfax of Tolston, co. York, second son of Henry, fourth Lord Fairfax, settled in New England in America, and was agent for his cousin Thomas, sixth lord, and had the entire management of his estates in Virginia. His third and only surviving son, Bryan Fairfax, was in holy orders, and resided in the United States. On the death of Robert, seventh Lord Fairfax, July 15, 1793, this Bryan went to England and preferred his claim to the peerage, which was determined in his favour by the House of Lords. He then returned to America. Bryan Fairfax married a Miss Elizabeth Cary, and had several children. (Vide Douglas, and Burke's Peerage.)
There are several English families who possess Scottish peerages, but they are derived from Scottish ancestors, as Talmash, Radclyffe, Eyre, &c.